The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1887-01-05
Comments Of tho State Press on the
Work Of the General Assembly OF
~ 1886. #s,.

y . . o. . . D.. q .. -.
There is but little reform or re.
trcnchment in the work Of the Legis.
lature of South Carolina for the ses.
sion of 1886, for the reason that
there is but little room for. retrench.
#ment and reform. The Legislature
worked hard, however, and is entitled
to discriminating commendation for
what it did, and for what it left un-
done. ........s ,..,. ...
During the session 141 bills we're
passed by both houses, and have be.
come laws. Only "a arc general
public Acts; 16 relate to railroads;
36 relate to county affairs and IL to
municipal charters /; 20 are misccl.
laneous charters; relate to the sale
of liquor; Z relate to the stock law;
relate to appropriations, and to
miscellaneous matters. The Joint
Resolutions ratifying the Constitu
tional amendments, relating to the
bonded debt and to the census, which
were voted on by the people in No.
vember, make up the count.
So far rs the General Appropria.
oASh ohAi 10 SOhSCluCNl, UllGtC W. uOU
in fact, there could not properly
be--any material reduction in the
amount appropriated. The State
Government Is run now on as econom-
ical basis as is consistent with
prompt and efficient administration
Before the meeting Of the General
Assembly, and during its session,
there was much well.meaning talk Of
reduction Of expenses. The hard
common sense of n majority OF the
Legislature, however, prevented any
sweeping changes. In one very i'm.
portant, respect much.dcsired
amendment has been effected. This
is embodied in the Act providing for
the transportation Of convicts from
county jails to the Penitentiary at
the expense of that institution. This
will relieve the counties Of very
onerous tax. The Act reducing the
fees for dieting of prisoners will also
tighten the burden on the counties
somewhat, although the provisions of
the Act will work hardship to the
sheriffs Of some counties.
AS result of the action Of the
Farmers Convention, bill was
passed providing for the establish
ment of two experimental agricultu-
raj stations in the State. The bill
which passed the House was con.
siderably modified in the Senate, ,-but
its substance was retained, and the
official representatives Of the farmers
are understood to be satisfied with it.
Two other"measures introduced in
resp onse to the memorial Of the far.
mers, viz, the bill to rcorganize the
agricultural department, and the bill
to provide for the equalization of
taxes, were passed by the House and
disallowed by the Senate, the former
having been postponed to the next
session, and the second having been
rejected.
The appropriations for the State
University are liberal. The bilhpro.
viding for tuition fee of $40 passed
both houses, with proviso that ben.
eficiary scholarships can be given to
deserving persons by the faculty at
their discretion. No boy who is poor
will be rejected on that account. The
free scholarships will be conferred
by the faculty, and they may be con.
tidently counted upon to exercise
sound judgment. The tuition fees,
however, should go to the College
fund, as means Of augmenting the
power and, therefore, the usefulness
Of that institution.
fNbn rhnonhofa rnuo1fu oo
bcfore, select committee having
been appointed to sit during the re.
cess and Investigate the subject, with
leave to report by bill.
The Legislature, taking into con-
sideration the distress prevailing in
the State, has extended to January
Is the time for paying the taxes, and
in certain sections of Charlcs ton,
Colleton and Berkeley counties,
affected by the earthquake, the time
is extended until February /. ...
The Legislation on the subject of
liquor selling was about equally di.
vided as far as prohibition and anti
prohibition are concerned. Ander.
son and Laurens have q new iron
clad prohibition law, which is extreme
in character and apparently incapa-
BILE of enforcement. 1t must be
borne in mind, however, that in or.
der to secure special election under
this law q majority Of the real estate
owners In the counties named must
petition for it. 1t Is doubtful, it is
said, that a majority Of the property
owners Of either Laurens or Ander-
son counties will consent to the pro-
visions Of the new law. In addition,
an Act was passed authorizing the
issuing of license for the sale Of Ii.
quor in the counties Of Beaufort and